Electronic device including display and light guide

ABSTRACT

An electronic device is disclosed. An electronic device according to the present invention comprises a first body equipped with a display in one side thereof; a coupling opening located in the other side of the first body; a light guide unit located in the coupling opening and transmitting light generated by operation of the display to the other side of the first body; and a second body connected to the first body through a hinge, wherein the light guide unit includes a plate and a convex portion formed on one surface of the plate and corresponding to the shape of the coupling opening. According to the present invention, an electronic device may include a light guide unit capable of transmitting light so as to correspond to the shape of a coupling opening of the body.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Phase of PCT International ApplicationNo. PCT/KR2015/011805, filed on Nov. 4, 2015, which claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. 119(a) to Patent Application No. 10-2014-0162804, filedin Republic of Korea on Nov. 20, 2014, all of which are hereby expresslyincorporated by reference into the present application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an electronic device including a lightguide unit capable of transmitting light to correspond to the shape of acoupling opening of a body.

BACKGROUND ART

Electronic devices such as TVs, personal computers, laptop computers,mobile phones, and tap books are evolving into multimedia playersproviding various functions including image or video capture, playbackof music or video files, game, and reception of broadcast programs.

Electronic devices in the form of a laptop computer are being used invarious applications since they provide performance higher than apredetermined level while still maintaining portability. Moreover, amouse function is embedded into the electronic device itself to enhanceportability; for example, the mouse function may be embedded into theelectronic device in the form of a touchpad.

Recently, to highlight difference in terms of design and/or technology,many attempts are made to add various devices to electronic devices.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

An object of the present invention is to solve the problem describedabove and other related problems. And another object of the presentinvention is to provide an electronic device including a light guideunit capable of transmitting light to correspond to the shape of acoupling opening of a body.

Technical Solution

According to one aspect of the present invention to achieve the objectdescribed above and other objects, an electronic device comprises afirst body equipped with a display in one side thereof; a couplingopening located in the other side of the first body; a light guide unitlocated in the coupling opening and transmitting light generated byoperation of the display to the other side of the first body; and asecond body connected to the first body through a hinge, wherein thelight guide unit includes a plate and a convex portion formed on onesurface of the plate and corresponding to the shape of the couplingopening.

The plate may be formed to have a width corresponding to the areaincluding a plurality of the coupling openings separated from eachother, and the convex portion may be formed to correspond to each of theplurality of coupling openings separated from each other.

The light guide unit may further comprise a spray layer applied on atleast one area of the plate and the convex portion.

The spray layer may be applied to one surface side of the plate in whichthe convex portion is formed.

The device may further comprise a taping layer located in the upper sideof the spray layer and blocking light from being transmitted to theother side.

The upper surface of the convex portion may be positioned side by side,actually at the same height of the surface of the other side of thefirst body.

The bottom surface of the plate corresponding to the upper surface ofthe convex portion may be positioned actually parallel to the other sidesurface of the first body.

The device may comprise at least one buffer member located in the outerperipheral region of the light guide unit of the light guide unitcoupling surface.

The height of the light guide unit may be smaller than the sum of theheight of the coupling opening and the height of the buffer member.

The light guide unit may be bonded to the first body.

Advantageous Effects

The following describe the advantageous effects of an electronic deviceaccording to the present invention.

According to at least one of the embodiment of the present invention,the electronic device may include a light guide unit capable oftransmitting light to correspond to the shape of a coupling opening of abody.

The additional scope of the present invention may be clearly understoodfrom the detailed descriptions given below. However, since variousmodifications and changes of the present invention may be clearlyunderstood by those skilled in the art within the technical principlesand scope of the present invention, it should be understood thatdetailed descriptions and specific embodiments such as preferredembodiments of the present invention have been provided simply for thepurpose of illustration

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the electronic device of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates one structure of the electronic device of FIG.2.

FIG. 6 illustrates a manufacturing process of the light guide unit ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the light guide unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 illustrates a coupling state of the light guide unit of FIG. 2.

MODE FOR INVENTION

In what follows, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to appended drawings. It should benoted that the same reference numbers are assigned to the constitutingelements which are the same or similar to each other irrespective oftheir drawing symbols and repeated descriptions thereof will be omitted.The suffixes “module” and “portion” for the constituting elementsappearing in the descriptions below are assigned or used interchangeablysimply for the convenience of writing this document and do not havespecific meanings or roles distinguished from each other. Also, in caseit is determined that specific descriptions for related technologies ormethods known to the public obscure the technical principles of theembodiments disclosed in this document, the detailed descriptionsthereof will be omitted. Also, it should be understood that appendeddrawings are intended only to help understanding the embodimentsdisclosed in the present document and thus do not limit the technicalprinciples disclosed in the present document but include all of themodifications, equivalent implementations, or substitutes of theembodiments belonging to the technical principles and scope of thepresent invention.

The terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be usedto describe various constituting elements, but the elements are notlimited by those terms including ordinal numbers. Those terms are usedonly for the purpose of distinguishing one constituting elements fromthe others.

When a constituting element is referred to as being “connected” to adifferent constituting element, it should be understood that theconstituting elements may be connected directly to the differentconstituting element, but a third constituting element may be presentbetween the two elements. On the other hand, when a constituting elementis referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, itshould be understood that no other element is present between the twoelements.

A singular expression includes plural expressions unless the contextexplicitly indicates otherwise.

It should be understood that the terms of “comprise” or “have” used inthe present document are introduced merely to indicate existence ofcharacteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constituting elements,components, or a combination thereof specified in the present documentbut do not preclude the existence of or possibility of adding one ormore other characteristics, numbers, steps, operations, constitutingelements, components, or a combination thereof.

Electronic devices described in this document may include laptopcomputers, digital broadcast terminals, PDAs (Personal DigitalAssistants), PMPs (Portable Multimedia Players), navigation terminals,slate PCs, tablet PCs, and ultrabooks.

However, it should be easily understood by those skilled in the art thatexcept for the case applicable only for mobile terminals, the structureaccording to embodiments of the present invention may also be applied tofixed terminals such as digital TVs, desktop computers, and digitalsignage.

FIG. 1 illustrates an electronic device according to one embodiment ofthe present invention.

As shown in the figure, an electronic device 100 according to oneembodiment of the present invention may belong to either a first statein which a first 110 and a second body 210 are open or a second state inwhich the first 110 and the second body 210 are closed.

As shown in FIG. 1(a), the electronic device 100 may be in the firststate. The first body 110 may be connected to the second body 210through the hinge 170. The first body 110 may rotate relative to thesecond body 210 through the hinge 170.

For example, while the second body 210 is fixed to the bottom surface,the first body 110 may rotate so as to be in the first state in whichthe display 130 of the front surface of the first body 110 is exposed tothe outside.

The first body 110 may be equipped with the aforementioned display 130and a camera 150.

The second body 210 may be equipped with a keyboard 230 obtaining keyinputs from the user. The side surface of the second body 210 may beequipped with at least one interface 250 through which an externaldevice may be connected.

The second body 210 may be equipped with a touchpad assembly 10 capableof obtaining a touch input from the user. The touchpad assembly 10 maybe located on the upper case 215 of the second body 210. Therefore, whenthe electronic device 100 is in the first state, the touchpad assembly10 may be exposed to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 1(b), the electronic device 100 may be in the secondstate. The second state may be a state in which the first body 110 is inclose contact with the second body 210. In the first state, the display130 of the first body 110, the keyboard 230 of the second body 210, andthe touchpad assembly 10 may not be exposed to the outside.

A logo area 70 may be prepared on the outside surface of the first body110.

A logo of the manufacturer of the electronic device 100 and/or an iconfor identifying the user of the electronic device 100 may be displayedon the logo area 70. The logo area 70 may shine brightly while theelectronic device 100 is in use. For example, the lighting of the logoarea 70 may be activated while the electronic device 100 is in the firststate, and the lighting of the logo area 70 may be deactivated while inthe second state.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the electronic device of FIG. 1.

As shown in the figures, an electronic device 100 according to oneembodiment of the present invention may illuminate the logo area 70 byusing the light guide unit 80.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), the first 110 and the second body 210 of theelectronic device 100 may be in the first state in which they are incontact with each other. In the first state, thickness (T) of theelectronic device 100 may have a primary effect on the size of theelectronic device 100 that the user experiences. Therefore, varioustechnologies are employed to reduce thickness (T) of electronic devices100.

The logo area 70 may have an effect on the thickness (T) of theelectronic device 100. In other words, due to the logo area 70 locatedon the outer surface of the first body 110 of the electronic device 100,thickness (T) of the electronic device 100 may be increased. The lightguide unit 80 of the electronic device 100 according to one embodimentof the present invention may eliminate or minimize the influence on thethickness (T) of the electronic device 100.

As shown in FIG. 2(b), the electronic device 100 may be in the secondstate in which the first 110 and the second body 210 are open. In thesecond state, light may be emitted through the logo area 70. In otherwords, the logo area 70 may be turned off in the first state, while thelogo area 70 may be turned on in the second state.

The on-off state of the logo area 70 may be related to the operation ofthe backlight unit 114 located in the first body 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the first body 110 may include a cover 112,backlight unit 114, optical sheet 116, and display 118.

The backlight unit 114 may generate light while the electronic device100 is operating. In other words, the light generated at the backlightunit 114 may illuminate the display 118 through the optical sheet 166.

At least part of the light generated at the backlight unit 114 may beemitted in the opposite direction of the display 118. For example, lightmay be emitted toward the light guide unit 80. The light emitted towardthe light guide unit 80 may be emitted to the outside through the cover112.

A coupling opening 72 may be formed in the cover 112. The shape of thecoupling opening 72 may correspond to at least part of the light guideunit 80. Light corresponding to the shape of the coupling opening 72and/or light guide unit 80 may be observed from the outside. Forexample, if the backlight unit 114 is activated according to theoperation of the electronic device 100, the display 118 and the lightguide unit 80 may be illuminated simultaneously by the light emittedfrom the backlight unit 114.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrates one structure of the electronic device of FIG.2.

As shown in the figures, an electronic device 100 may include abackcover 112 and a light guide unit 80 coupled to the backcover 112.

As shown in FIG. 4(a), a coupling opening 72 may be formed in thebackcover 112.

The coupling opening 72 may be formed in at least one part of thebackcover 112. The coupling opening 72 may be in the form of penetratingat least one part of the backcover 112. The coupling opening 72 maycorrespond to the shape to be displayed on the backcover 122. Forexample, the coupling opening 72 may correspond to the shape such asnumbers, letters, and logo.

The coupling opening 72 may be further divided into a plurality ofcoupling openings to correspond to a desired shape. For example, thecoupling opening 72 may be divided into a first to a third couplingopening (72 a to 72 c) separated from each other.

The coupling opening 72 may be used not only for the area to which thelight guide unit 80 is coupled but also for a frame representing a shapeto be displayed. In other words, a particular shape may be expressedthrough the first to the third coupling opening (72 a to 72 c)penetrated to correspond to the shape. For example, the letter ‘L’ maybe expressed directly from the shape of the second coupling opening 72 bitself. Since the coupling opening 72 itself may be used to express aspecific shape, thickness and/or size of the device due to adding aseparate structure to express the shape may be prevented from beingincreased.

As shown in FIG. 4(b), thickness of the coupling opening 72 may bemeasured to be CT. The thickness (CT) of the coupling opening 72 may bethe thickness of the backcover 112. In other words, the backcover itselfmay have been perforated.

As shown in FIG. 5(a), the light guide unit 80 may include a plate 84and a convex portion 82.

The plate 84 may be a body part of the light guide unit 80. The plate 84may be in the form of a flat plate. The plate 84 in the form of a flatplate may correspond to the coupling opening area (72 of FIG. 4). Forexample, size of the plate 84 may correspond to the size of the first tothird coupling opening (72 a to 72 c of FIG. 4) expressing a specificshape. Since the size of the plate 84 covers the whole area of thecoupling opening (72 of FIG. 40), inconvenience of attaching the plate84 to each of the first to the third coupling opening (72 a to 72 c ofFIG.4) may be eliminated. At least one part of the plate 84 may furthercomprise a spray layer (CS).

The spray layer (CS) may be formed on the plate 84 by spraying specificpaint thereon. The light generated at the backlight unit (114 of FIG. 3)may be diffused as it goes through the spray layer CS. The lightgenerated at the backlight unit (114 of FIG. 3) may change its color asit goes through the spray layer (CS). For example, color of the lightmay be changed due to the color of the spray layer (CS). Considering thefact that the light generated at the backlight unit (114 of FIG. 3) hasto be emitted along a path guiding the light to the outside through thecoupling opening (72 of FIG. 3), the spray layer (CS) may be formed onlyin the area corresponding to the convex portion 82 or in a partial areaincluding the area corresponding to the convex portion 82.

The spray layer (CS) may be realized with a considerably small thicknesscompared with conventional diffusion sheets. In other words, since thespray layer (CS) is formed by spraying specific paint on at least onepart of the plate 84, the spray layer (CS) may be considered to besuperior to conventional diffusion sheets which require an additionalstructure in view of thickness. The effect described above may be morereadily understood by considering that reducing thickness and/or size ofelectronic devices 100 is a major issue in the corresponding field.

The convex portion 82 may be an area protruding in the upper directionfrom the plate 84. The convex portion 82 may protrude in the upperdirection to have a predetermined height. The convex portion 82 mayinclude a first to a third convex portion (82 a to 82 c) correspondingto the first to the third coupling opening (72 a to 72 c of FIG. 4).

The first to the third convex portion (82 a to 82 c) may correspond tothe shape to be realized by the light guide unit 80. For example, thefirst to the third convex portion (82 a to 82 c) may correspond tospecific letters or shapes, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 5(b), the overall height of the light guide unit 80 mayamount to WT. The height of the convex portion 82 may be WT1, and theheight of the plate 84 may be WT2. The height of the convex portion 82,WT1, may correspond to the height of the backcover (112 of FIG. 4), CT.

The height WT1 of the convex portion 82 may be the same at a pluralityof positions separated from each other. For example, the first to thethird convex portions (82 a to 82 c) may protrude to have apredetermined height corresponding to the height CT of the backcover(112 of FIG. 4).

As shown in FIG. 5(c), the convex portion 82 of the light guide unit 80may be in the form of protruding toward the front surface of the lightguide unit 80.

FIG. 6 illustrates a manufacturing process of the light guide unit ofFIG. 2.

As shown in the figure, the light guide unit 80 according to oneembodiment of the present invention may be formed through apredetermined manufacturing process.

As shown in FIG. 6(a), a convex portion 82 may be formed on the plate84.

The plate 84 and the convex portion 82 may be formed by injecting aresin material. For example, the plate 84 and the convex portion 82 maybe formed through a process of injection molding of transparent and/ortranslucent plastic material.

Paint may be sprayed from a nozzle (NZ) on at least one part of theplate 84 and the convex portion 82. Paint may be sprayed on the surfaceon which the convex portion 82 is formed. The paint may comprisemicro-scale particles capable of diffusing light and penetrating theconvex portion 82. The paint may have a specific color.

As shown in FIG. 6(b), the paint sprayed on the plate 84 and the convexportion 82 may serve as a spray layer (CS). As described above,thickness of the spray layer (CS) may be thinner than when a diffusionsheet is additionally used.

As shown in FIG. 6(c), a taping layer 81 may be additionally attached.The taping layer 81 may serve to block the light generated at thebacklight unit (114 of FIG. 3). For example, the taping layer 81 may bemade of a translucent or opaque material. One surface of the tapinglayer 81 may be coated with an adhesive. The taping layer 81 may beattached to a desired position from design so that light may not betransmitted.

FIG. 7 illustrates the operation of the light guide unit of FIG. 2.

As shown in the figure, the light guide unit 80 according to oneembodiment of the present invention may be attached to the inner surfaceof the backcover 112 and diffuse light to the outside.

As shown in FIG. 7(a), the light guide unit 80 may be coupled to thecoupling area (LA) of the inner surface of the backcover 112. Thecoupling area LA may include a plurality of coupling openings 72 formedin the backcover 112. Around the coupling area LA, at least one rib 111may be formed to protect the light guide unit 80 and providing rigidityto the backcover 112.

The light guide unit 80 may be bonded to the backcover 112. For example,the light guide unit 80 may be attached to the backcover 122 by applyingheat or using an adhesive. Since a separate fastening member such as ascrew is not used to couple the light guide unit 80 with the backcover112, space required for coupling the light guide unit 80 may beminimized.

As shown in FIG. 7(b), light (L) may be diffused to the outside throughthe light guide unit 80 attached to the backcover 112. The height WT ofthe light guide unit 80 may be smaller than the height LH of the rib 111formed on the backcover 112. Therefore, other structure such as thebacklight unit (114 of FIG. 3) may be prevented from contacting thelight guide unit 80 directly.

FIG. 8 illustrates a coupling state of the light guide unit of FIG. 2.

As shown in FIG. 8(a), the electronic device 10 according to oneembodiment of the present invention may include a buffer member 90installed in the outer peripheral area of the light guide unit 80attached to the backcover 112. For example, the buffer member 90 may bedisposed in such a way to surround the light guide unit 80 at a slightlyseparated position from the light guide unit 80.

The buffer member 90 may be made of an elastic material. For example,the buffer member 90 may be made of sponge or rubber. The buffer member90 may prevent a pressure due to an external force from being applied tothe light guide unit 80.

As shown in FIG. 8(b), the height CH of the buffer member 90 may belarger than the height WT of the light guide unit 80. Due to the heightof the buffer member 90, other structures inside the electronic device100 may contact the buffer member 90 first rather than the light guideunit 80. Therefore, the light guide unit 80 and/or other structures maybe prevented from being damaged, and noise due to contact may beprevented.

The upper surface 96 of the light guide unit 80 may be flat. In otherwords, the upper surface 96 forms a flat surface like the outer surfaceof the backcover 112 and may be actually disposed in parallel with theouter surface of the backcover 112 at the same height. Therefore, whenobserved from the outside, the electronic device 100 may look flat andconsistent without showing irregularities.

The bottom surface 87 of the light guide unit 80 may be flat. In otherwords, the bottom surface 87 may be actually parallel to the uppersurface 86 of the buffer member. This kind of arrangement may bedifferent from existing arrangements including a diffusion sheet. Inother words, in case a separate diffusion sheet is used to diffuselight, the bottom surface 87 may not be flat because a diffusion sheethaving a specific shape such as a semicircle is attached to alter thepath of the light. Due to the flat bottom surface 87, the light guideunit 80 may be installed while the thickness of the electronic device100 is less influenced.

The detailed descriptions given above should not be interpreted in anyaspect as limiting but should be considered illustrative. The technicalscope of the present invention should be determined by reasonableinterpretation of the appended claims, and all of the possible changeswithin the equivalent scope of the present invention belong to thetechnical scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device, comprising: a first bodyequipped with a display in one side thereof, a coupling opening locatedin an other side of the first body; a light guide covering the couplingopening and transmitting light generated by operation of the display tothe other side of the first body; at least one buffer member coupled toan inner surface of the other side of the first body and positioned inan outer peripheral region of the light guide; a second body connectedto the first body through a hinge; and a paint layer formed on the lightguide and exposed to an outside through the coupling opening, whereinthe light guide comprises: a plate attached to the inner surface of theother side of the first body; and a convex portion formed on one surfaceof the plate and positioned in the coupling opening.
 2. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the plate is formed to have a widthcorresponding to the area including a plurality of the coupling openingsseparated from each other, and the convex portion is formed tocorrespond to each of the plurality of coupling openings separated fromeach other.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the paint layeris applied on at least one area of the plate and the convex portion. 4.The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the paint layer is applied toone surface side of the plate in which the convex portion is formed. 5.The electronic device of claim 3, further comprising a taping layerlocated in an upper side of the paint layer and blocking light frombeing transmitted to the other side of the first body.
 6. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein an upper surface of the convex portion ispositioned side by side at a same height of a surface of the other sideof the first body.
 7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a bottomsurface of the plate corresponding to an upper surface of the convexportion is positioned parallel to the other side surface of the firstbody.
 8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a height of the lightguide is smaller than a sum of a height of the coupling opening and aheight of the buffer member.
 9. The electronic device of claim 1,wherein the light guide is bonded to the first body.
 10. The electronicdevice of claim 1, wherein the convex portion corresponds to the shapeof the coupling opening.
 11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein aheight of the buffer member from the inner surface is higher than aheight of the plate from the inner surface.